SanDisk Extreme II Solid State Drive SDSSDXP Review

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SanDisk Extreme II SSD Conclusion

RATING DISCLAIMER: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, be advised that every author perceives these factors differently. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer revisions that occur after publication which could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on this conclusion, as it represents our rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.

The SanDisk Extreme II solid state drive sent to us for testing is advertised to deliver up to 95,000 random read IOPS, and up to 78,000 random write IOPS. Using the Iometer benchmark tool, operational performance tests configured to a queue depth of 32 outstanding I/O’s per target across 100% of the drive produced only 43,180 combined IOPS performance – placing far from the leading SATA-based SSDs. In the 4K 32QD tests using AS-SSD and CrystalDiskMark, the 240GB SanDisk Extreme II SSD outperformed several products but did not surpass many of the leading enthusiast storage solutions.

While sustained speeds were impressive, peak transfer speeds were average. Operational performance did not appear to be this SSDs strongest feature, as it delivered decent IOPS in CrystalDiskMark and AS-SSD, but failed to reach respectable enthusiast-level results in Iometer.

Solid State Drives are low-visibility products: you see them just long enough to install and then they’re forgotten. Like their Hard Disk Drive counterparts, Solid State Drives are meant to place function before fashion. Anything above and beyond a simple metal shell is already more than what’s expected in terms of the appearance. SanDisk Technology has created a sleek 7mm profile with an appealing finish on their Extreme II SSDs.

Durability is the strongest feature credited to the entire SSD product segment. Solid state drives are not prone to mechanical failure because they lack moving parts. Additionally, the SanDisk Extreme II will throttle performance in the event component temperatures exceed allowable product thresholds. If any SanDisk Extreme II storage product does happen to fail during its industry-leading 5-year warranty period, end-users may contact SanDisk at their toll-free telephone number (866-726-3475) for technical support or customer service questions.

As of July 2013, the SanDisk Extreme II SSD series is available online in the following capacities and prices:

My summary: SanDisk’s Extreme II SSD packages a complex combination of components and features that perform well, but not extraordinarily well. The 19nm Toggle NAND Flash does produce impressive data transfer speeds, but the Marvell 88SS9187 SSD processor isn’t as powerful in IOPS performance as we’ve seen from other new products. IOPS results notwithstanding, the SanDisk Extreme II SSD does do something almost nobody else does: offer a five-year product warranty on their drive. Combine this with the slightly lower price tag, and you’ve got a solid balance of features and value.